| When considering touring Italy, most visitors | | | | sophistication and great beauty. The ancient |
| probably want to see the major cities of | | | | heart of the city contains a huge |
| Florence, Rome, Venice. Without a doubt, | | | | amphitheatre built by the Romans in the 1st |
| these are the highlights for a reason. But | | | | century AD. This arena, one of the largest |
| smaller towns can provide a better | | | | outside of the Roman coliseum, is now |
| understanding of Italian history and offer | | | | restored and used as an opera house during |
| their own fascination. These places were the | | | | the summer season. It makes up one side of |
| backdrop for the struggle for power that | | | | the Piazza Bra, the gracious town square. |
| comprised much of the drama of Italian | | | | The tourist information office is also |
| history.Cremona, founded by the Romans in 218 | | | | located there.Even if you don't come during |
| BC, is quite simply the violin capital of the | | | | the opera season, there is the lure of |
| world. The streets are lined with the shops | | | | romance at 23 Via Cappello, Juliet's House. |
| of makers of all manner of stringed | | | | The story of Romeo and Juliet has some basis |
| instruments. You can see a demonstration of | | | | in truth. The house and its balcony form a |
| violin-making and make a visit to the | | | | popular attraction. Verona also has intimate |
| collezione di Palazzo Comunale where the town | | | | street markets lined with buildings still |
| collection is on display. These beloved | | | | showing their early frescoes (Piazza delle |
| instruments - the oldest by Andrea Amati | | | | Erbe) and elegant shopping streets paved with |
| dates back to 1566 - are played regularly to | | | | marble (Via Mazzini).Called the capital of |
| keep them in good physical condition.It's | | | | the Este family, who flourished around the |
| hard to miss the town's connection with | | | | 13th to 15th centuries, Ferrara is famous for |
| Stradivarius, who is perhaps the most famous | | | | its wide streets and Renaissance palaces. |
| of the illustrious line of violin-makers of | | | | Originally a medieval town, by the end of the |
| Cremona. The Stradivarian Museum contains | | | | 1400s the city was sufficiently prosperous |
| objects from his workshop, there's a statue | | | | that Duke Ercole I commissioned an architect |
| to him on the Piazza Stradivari and there's | | | | to create a new Renaissance city and join it |
| the Tomb of Stradivari in the Piazza Roma. | | | | to the older medieval section. The project |
| The International Violinmakers School is also | | | | included constructing new palaces, villas and |
| located in Cremona at the Palazzo Raimondi. | | | | parks with a clearly more modern and airy |
| If you aren't on a tour, your first stop | | | | feel. Here again, try to arrange for a tour |
| should be the tourist information office in | | | | of the castles. It is the history, the |
| the Piazza del Comune, for a map and | | | | stories of the people who lived, loved and |
| information.Parma is the next stop and it is | | | | fought that brings meaning to these stone |
| indeed the home of the famed Parma ham and | | | | buildings.Ferrara is best known for its |
| Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Although famous | | | | University founded in 1222, among the oldest |
| for its food, Parma was once the capital of a | | | | in Europe and the Scrovegni Chapel with its |
| grand duchy ruled over by the Farnese family. | | | | frescoes produced by the artist Giotto. |
| It was, for a time, a possession of Austria. | | | | There are 36 frescoes depicting the lives of |
| It is also known for a scent produced | | | | Mary and Jesus. Plant lovers will probably |
| locally, Violetta di Parma.The town | | | | want to visit the Botanical Garden founded in |
| associated with the famous composer Giuseppe | | | | 1545 containing rare plants and the old |
| Verdi is Roncole where he was born. It has | | | | library and botany collection of the |
| since changed its name to Roncole-Verdi in | | | | University.Without a doubt, Venice deserves |
| his honor. His home is the main attraction | | | | its reputation. It is a heart-breakingly |
| of the tiny village. His professional career | | | | beautiful city. Built on 117 separate |
| began when Antonio Barezzi, a wealthy | | | | islands, Venice has an extensive water bus |
| merchant, asked him to move to Busseto and | | | | system (as well as water taxis) rather than |
| become a music teacher for his daughter, | | | | ground transportation. It has narrow paths, |
| Margherita. Barezzi became not only Verdi's | | | | houses whose front doors literally open onto |
| patron, but also his father-in-law when Verdi | | | | the water and no cars and around every corner |
| married Margherita in 1836. A monument to | | | | is a canal and a bridge and one magnificent |
| Verdi overlooks the town square, which is | | | | building after another. But it is also a |
| also the site of the annual Verdi Festival. | | | | tourist magnet with all the problems that go |
| There is, of course, a museum to the famous | | | | with that popularity.The cruise ships pull in |
| son and a tiny gem of a theatre built in his | | | | and disgorge thousands of visitors who line |
| honor. It is said that Verdi never actually | | | | up to visit St. Mark's Basilica, buy gelato |
| set foot in the theater which opened in 1868. | | | | in the Piazza San Marco and stroll along the |
| Verdi was against building it, saying the | | | | Grand Canal. And for some reason you won't |
| theater was too expensive and would be | | | | be able to understand, they like to feed the |
| useless in the future. But the town fathers | | | | pigeons and have their picture taken covered |
| went ahead regardless of his resistance. He | | | | in birds. Venice is also a big city with the |
| was absent at its opening even though one of | | | | hustle and bustle of commerce. Part of that |
| his most famous operas, Rigoletto, was | | | | commerce is the lucrative tourist trade. |
| performed. The elegant theater has been | | | | There's no shortage of shops catering to |
| restored and reopened, but in a sense Verdi | | | | visitors selling Venetian masks, Murano glass |
| was right. It only holds 300 people.As you | | | | and more.Venice is divided into sestieres or |
| journey from one city to another, it soon | | | | boroughs. The most famous is San Marco which |
| becomes clear that the history of Italy is | | | | contains the major sights. Visit the |
| intertwined with the story of the Gonzagas, | | | | Galleria dell'Academia with its collection of |
| one of the richest and most powerful | | | | Venetian masters and the Peggy Guggenheim |
| families. Mantova was the seat of that | | | | Gallery with its more modern works. Stand |
| dynasty. The 500-room Ducal Palace (Palazzo | | | | near the Bridge of Sighs that links the |
| Ducale) took centuries to build. The Palazzo | | | | Doges' Palace to the old prisons.The pity of |
| Te, built by Federigo Gonzaga for his | | | | Venice is that it is sinking into the lagoon. |
| mistress, stands outside of the walled part | | | | During rains the water can rise up and cover |
| of the city. Mantova has ancient stone | | | | the piazzas, seep into hotel lobbies and |
| churches, many small shops, lovely squares | | | | threaten the viability of a beautiful marvel |
| and sidewalk cafes.If it isn't already, | | | | of engineering. And in the summer it is |
| Verona may become your favorite city. It has | | | | overrun with tourists. But see it anyway. |
| everything, tumultuous history, ruins | | | | It is worth it. |
| stretching back to the Roman era, | | | | |